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Francisco Xavier Castellanos Insuasti
I am a PhD student at the Ray Lab, skilled in fieldwork, cellular and molecular biology, and bioinformatics. My research encompasses studies from the evolution of Transposable Elements and the innate immune response of bats to the Ecology, behavior and habitat occupancy of large mammals such as Andean bears, tapirs and Andean foxes in Ecuador.
Education
2024
PhD Student
Texas Tech University. The Ray Lab. Lubbock, USA2023
Master of Science in Biology
Texas Tech University Lubbock, USA- Thesis: A Comparative Genomics Approach to Unravel the Evolutionary Dynamics of Transposable Elements and Innate Immune Genes in Chiroptera.
2020
BS Genetics
Laboratorio de Genética Evolutiva,Universidad Nacional de Misiones Posadas, Argentina
- Thesis: Cytogenetic and molecular studies in some species of the Genus Myotis (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae: Myotinae) in Northern Argentina.
Research Experience
Present2021
Collaborator
The Ray Lab, Texas Tech University Lubbock, USA- RAPID: Immunological adaptations in bats to moderate the effect of coronavirus infection.
- RoL: FELS: EAGER: Collaborative Research: Genomics of exceptions to scaling of longevity to body size.
Present2020
Associated Researcher
INABIO Quito, Ecuador- Employed novel bioinformatic methods to understand how mammals make use of their natural habitat and what resources impact on how they move across their home ranges.
Present2015
Research Assistant
Andean Bear Foundation Quito, Ecuador- As part of the Large Mammals Project in Parque Nacional Cayambe Coca, I assisted in ecotourism projects and tracking of mammals.
- Our Foundation works with INABIO on several projects related to home range estimation of mammals habitats and behavior patterns using GPS data.
Professional Experience
Present2023
Regional Chair
Bat1K- As a newly appointed Regional Chair for Ecuador I intend to bridge connections between one of the most important worldwide bat consortia and institutions in my home country that have not collaborated with genome sequencing initiatives due to lack of funding.
- My efforts will expand the consortium’s reach and impact in one of the most underrepresented regions with regard to genome-related projects.
2021
Thesis Evaluating Committee
Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas Bogotá, Colombia- Undergraduate Thesis: “Biological knowledge status of the subfamily Stenodermatinae (Gervais, 1856): a cytogenetic revision within an evolutionary framework”
20182015
Field Assistant
Laboratorio de Genética Evolutiva, Universidad Nacional de Misiones Posadas, Argentina- I was part of collection campaigns with the goal of obtaining biological samples from bats for several genetic and ecological projects.
Internships
December 2022
A cytogenetic and genomic approach to unravel phylogenetic discrepancies in a bat genus
Integrative Biology Department, University of California, Berkeley Berkeley, USAFebruary 2020
Karyological analyses as a tool for clinical diagnosis of human hereditary diseases
Hospital Carlos Andrade Marin, Genetics and Molecular Unit Quito, Ecuador20192018
Herpetology data base enhancement project
Laboratorio de Genética Evolutiva, Universidad Nacional de Misiones Posadas, ArgentinaTeaching Experience
20232022
BIOL 1404 (BIOL II)
Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University Lubbock, USA- Laboratory Teaching Assistant.
- Lab continuation for BIOL1403 for Biology Major students.
- Dissection labs are performed besides an independent investigation project in which students present a scientific article draft as a final project.
2023
Genomes and Genomes Evolution
Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University Lubbock, USA- Teaching Assistant
- Guided graduate students through exercises performed through the Unix command line to analyze genome assemblies via several tools.
20222021
BIOL 1403 (BIOL I)
Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University Lubbock, USA- Laboratory Teaching Assistant.
- Lab course designed to develop scientific skills in Biology Major students.
- Guided students to perform microscopy, spectrophotometry, and fermentation experiments.
Summer 2022
BIOL 3416 (Genetics)
Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University Lubbock, USA- Laboratory Teaching Assistant.
- Topics covered include Mendelian genetics, fly crosses to replicate Thomas Morgan’s experiments, and Chi-square as a means to understand statistical significance of expected and observed breeding results.
Spring 2021
Introduction to Telemetry and Ecology of Large Mammals
Andean Bear Foundation Online- Basic level introduction to R language, basic statistics and data visualization.
- Intermediate-level students were introduced to home range estimation methods using the adehabitat package.
- Advanced students learned to visualize animal movement with the movevis package and to estimate home ranges using the Convex Hull method with T-LoCoH.
Pedagogical Training
Fall 2022
Biology Teacher Scholar Program
Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University Lubbock, USA- Completed a comprehensive teaching professional development program
- Participated in intensive, 2-day bootcamp on topics including: active learning, growth mindset, and lesson planning
- Participated in monthly mentoring sessions
- Completed a peer teaching observation and reflection
Publications
2023
A SINE-based method to reconstruct concordant phylogenies in Chiroptera (In preparation)
Castellanos, F. X., Paulat, N., Hughes, G., and Ray, D.2023
Home range and utilization of landscape of the Andean bear Tremarctos ornatus in the Ecuadorian Andes (In preparation)
Castellanos, F. X., Jackson, D., Kays, R., Van Gestel, N., Brito, J. and Castellanos, A2023
The search behavior of terrestrial mammals (Submitted to Nature Communications)
Michael J. Noonan, Ricardo Martinez-Garcia, Christen H. Fleming, … Castellanos, F. X. .. , William F. Fagan, and Justin M. Calabrese.(2023). [Preprint]: https:2023
The evolution of antimicrobial peptides in Chiroptera
Castellanos, F. X., Moreno-Santillan, D., Hughes, G.M., …, Ray, D.A. and Dávalos, L.M. The evolution of antimicrobial peptides in Chiroptera. Frontiers in Immunology 14. https:2023
New species of the Spiny Mouse genus Neacomys (Cricetidae, Sigmodontinae) from northwestern Ecuador
Tinoco, N., Koch, C., Colmenares J., Castellanos, F. X.,and Brito, J. (2023). New species of spiny mouse genus of the Neacomys (Cricetidae, Sigmodontinae) from northwestern Ecuador. Zookeys 1175:187-221. https:2021
A pilot study on the home range and movement patterns of the Andean Fox Lycalopex culpaeus (Molina, 1782) in Cotopaxi National Park, Ecuador
Castellanos, A., Castellanos, F. X., Kays, R. and Brito, J. (2021). A pilot study on the home range and movement patterns of the Andean Fox Lycalopex culpaeus (Molina, 1782) in Cotopaxi National Park, Ecuador. Mammalia 86(1), 22-26. https:2020
Tapirus pinchaque in Western Ecuador
Castellanos, A., Brito, J. and Castellanos, F. X.. (2021). Tapirus pinchaque in Western Ecuador. Museum of Zoologic Research IASA, Technical Bulletin, Zoologic Series 16:1-4. Online access:https:
2020
First report of Canine distemper in the Andean Fox (Lycalopex culpaeus) in Ecuador
Castellanos, A., Brito, J. and Castellanos, F. X.. (2022). First report of Canine distemper in the Andean Fox (Lycalopex culpaeus) in Ecuador. Museum of Zoologic Research IASA, Technical Bulletin, Zoologic Series 16:1-4. Online access:https:
2019
Glyphonycteris, O. Thomas, 1896 (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae: Glyphonycterinae), a new genus of bats for Argentina, with commentary on its karyotype
Sánchez, M.S., Labaroni C.A., Castellanos, F. X. and Baldo, D.J. Glyphonycteris, O. Thomas, 1896 (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae: Glyphonycterinae), a new genus of bats for Argentina, with commentary on its karyotype. Mastozoología Neotropical, 26(2):420-429.https:
2019
Panthera onca
Castellanos, A., Castellanos, F. X., and Vallejo, A.F. 2019. Panthera onca In: Brito, J., Camacho, M. A., Romero, V. Vallejo, A. F. (eds). Mamíferos del Ecuador. Version 2018.0. Zoology Museum, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador. Online access:https:
2019
Artibeus lituratus
Sánchez, Mariano S., Castellanos, F. X., Sandoval, María Leonor (2019). Artibeus lituratus. (2019). Categorization of mammals in Argentina according to their risk of extinction. Argentine mammal’s Red List. Digital version: https:2019
Carollia perspicillata
Castellanos, F. X., Sánchez, Mariano S., Sandoval, María Leonor (2019). Carollia perspicillata. (2019). Categorization of mammals in Argentina according to their risk of extinction. Argentine mammal’s Red List. Digital version: https:Conferences & Talks
June 2023
deAMPlifying the Immune Response? Antimicrobial Peptides Evolution in Chiroptera
Oral presentation: Evolution. Albuquerque NM, USA.April 2023
deAMPlifying the Immune Response? Antimicrobial Peptides Evolution in Chiroptera
Oral presentation: 11th Texas Tech Annual Biologial Sciences Symposium. Best Oral Presentation. Lubbock TX, USA.August 2022
deAMPlifying the Immune Response: Antimicrobial Peptides Evolution in Chiroptera
Poster presentation:. 19th IBCR - 50th NASBR. [Abstract PDF]. Austin TX, USA.April 2021
De lo básico a lo complejo: ¿Qué causa el Síndrome de Prader WIlli?
Invited speaker: From the basics to the complex: What causes Prader-Willi Syndrome?Fundación Prader-Willi Ecuador. Online.
October 2018
Chromosomal studies in some species of the genus Myotis (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from Northern Argentina.
Poster presentation:. XXXI Argentine Conference of Mastozoology.[Abstract PDF]. La Rioja, Argentina.
Awards
2023
Bat Biology Foundation Award
The Ray Lab, Texas Tech University Lubbock, USA2023
Short summer Research Award
The Ray Lab, Texas Tech University Lubbock, USA2022
General Fellowships for New and Continuing Graduate Students
The Ray Lab, Texas Tech University Lubbock, USA2022
Study Abroad Competitive Scholarship
The Ray Lab, Texas Tech University Lubbock, USA2022
TTU Biology Teacher-Scholars Program
Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University Lubbock, USA2019